Chapter 44: Run

Seeing their boss "attacked," several waiters in the restaurant rushed out, surrounding Zhao Zejun and Su Yun.

Realizing they were just a young man and woman, the waiters glared at them aggressively, and some even picked up weapons.

Most dogs kept by restaurants had dubious origins; many were snatched or stolen from the streets. Occasionally, owners would track them down, leading to fierce disputes. Judging by the appearance of Zhao Zejun and Su Yun, the waiters naturally assumed this was a young couple coming to reclaim their pet.

Instinctively, Zhao Zejun took a step forward to shield Su Yun—a habitual reaction. To his surprise, Su Yun moved faster, stepping in front of him instead.

This gesture startled Old Zhao slightly before he felt a sense of amusement. Su Yun had no idea that he was actually a man two years older than her; in her mind, her current role was that of a teacher, and she certainly wouldn't let a student take the brunt of the danger.

"It's fine, it's fine. You guys go back to work," the chubby boss hurriedly waved his hands to disperse the waiters, then turned to Su Yun with a helpless expression. "Come on, miss, I'm trying to run a business here. What am I supposed to do if you pull a stunt like this?"

"I'll buy it," Su Yun said.

The boss shook his head. "It's not about the money. My customers have already ordered the dish. If I sell it to you, how am I supposed to explain it to them?"

When a woman's overflowing empathy takes over, there is truly no curing it. The more calm and rational a woman usually was, the more stubborn she became once her mind was set, impossible to pull back even by nine oxen. Ever since Su Yun uttered the word "Stop," her demeanor was a complete departure from her usual cool-headed self. Cradling the shivering puppy, she said without a moment's hesitation, "Whatever they're paying, I'll pay double."

The boss sighed and glanced at Zhao Zejun.

Zhao Zejun handed the boss a cigarette, offering an apologetic smile. "Sorry about this, boss. She's soft-hearted and can't bear to see this kind of thing. Could you do us a favor and talk to the table that ordered it? We'll pay extra. Thank you!"

The chubby boss took the cigarette, tucked it behind his ear, and rolled his eyes. "You young people really have too much time on your hands. What's there to feel sorry about with a slaughtered dog? If everyone acted like you, nobody would eat chicken, duck, pork, or beef."

"Right, right, it won't happen again. Sorry for the trouble," Zhao Zejun continued to placate him.

Complaints aside, the chubby boss turned around and headed back into the restaurant to negotiate with the customers who had ordered the dish.

Zhao Zejun looked back at Su Yun and shook his head with a smile.

The black dog in Su Yun's arms was drenched from head to toe. It was a small dog, easily cradled in one hand, but having been plunged into freezing water in the dead of winter, it was shaking, terrified, and choked with water, frantically burrowing deeper into Su Yun's embrace. Not daring to let go for fear of dropping it, Su Yun instinctively turned sideways. "There's a handkerchief in my right pocket. Take it out and dry it off."

Zhao Zejun reached his hand into the pocket of her down jacket. His hand encountered immediate warmth; beneath the thick down jacket, she likely wore only a jersey, and through the fabric, the back of his hand could feel the elasticity of her waist.

The moment his hand brushed against her waist through the pocket, he clearly noticed Su Yun's body give a slight shudder, instinctively pulling away to the side.

"Ahem..." Zhao Zejun's face flushed bright red, making it look as though he were taking advantage of her. He hurriedly grabbed the handkerchief and pulled his hand back.

"Dry its head." Su Yun didn't mention the intimate contact just now and instead "handed" the dog's head toward him.

"Teacher Su, this is rich. You wouldn't let me keep a pet, yet you're rescuing a stray dog yourself." Instead of complying, Zhao Zejun smiled and said, "How is this going to dry off like that? Put it down; the puppy will shake the water off its fur by itself."

"Oh, right." The corners of Su Yun's lips curled up in a smile as she set the puppy on the ground.

The little black dog landed on all fours, shaking its head and body vigorously, sending tiny droplets of water flying everywhere. It even let out a cute, squeaky bark at Su Yun.

Su Yun squatted down, extended her long index finger, and gently poked the wet puppy nose. The puppy stretched out its pink tongue and licked her finger. Su Yun didn't pull away, letting the dog lick her as she gazed at it with a smile.

Zhao Zejun paused for a moment, watching a woman in her thirties squatting on the ground teasing a puppy and smiling like an eighteen- or nineteen-year-old girl.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Su Yun looked up to find Zhao Zejun staring blankly at her, his mouth slightly open in a dazed expression.

"Nothing." Zhao Zejun smiled. "Teacher Su, you should smile more. You really look quite pretty when you smile."

He shouldn't have said that. At his words, Su Yun stopped smiling immediately. She used the handkerchief to wipe down the puppy, whose fur was now mostly dry, scooped it back into her arms, and stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Zhao Zejun with a straight face, waiting for the boss's reply.

A dog at most cost around a hundred yuan; doubling it meant two to three hundred. As a university teacher, Su Yun could certainly afford it.

Before long, the boss emerged, accompanied by a rather flashily dressed woman wearing several excessively large gold rings.

"This is the beauty who ordered the dish. You two can talk it over," the chubby boss said.

"Hello, this puppy is quite pitiful, and I'd like to buy it to keep. How much do you think would be appropriate—"

Before Su Yun could finish, the woman interrupted her. Glancing at Su Yun sideways, the woman said with a sarcastic tone, "What's the big idea? You're going to double whatever I'm paying? Trying to play the big spender in front of me? Let me tell you, honey, I've got money to burn!"

Su Yun's expression tightened slightly. She had assumed the other party was here to discuss the price, not expecting such hostility right out of the gate.

Zhao Zejun stepped forward to smooth things over. "Miss, you've misunderstood; there's no hidden meaning. My friend has always wanted to keep a dog, and since we happened to cross paths with this one, she felt a connection. We're just trying to negotiate with you."

The woman cast a sideways glance at Zhao Zejun, let out a huff through her nose, and said, "Felt a connection with a dog? You two certainly have unique tastes. How are the three of you planning to handle this once you go back?"

That remark was utterly vile. Although Su Yun wasn't from a notoriously sheltered aristocratic background, her parents were both intellectuals, and she had grown up in a cultured scholarly household; her face flushed crimson instantly.

Zhao Zejun's expression darkened as well. If they wanted to sell, fine; if not, fine—it was a simple matter. Why resort to insults?

Still, by all rights, the other party had laid claim to the dog first. Since they weren't letting go, it wouldn't do to simply snatch it by force.

Adopting a polite tone once more, he said, "How about this, miss? Name your price, and whatever extra amount there is, consider it a token of my appreciation."

"Name my price?! Fine, ten thousand yuan and you can take it. Tang Fatty, let me tell you, if you're even a penny short, don't you dare sell this dog to them, or I'll make your life miserable."

With that, she turned on her heel, swaying her hips as she walked back into the restaurant, cursing under her breath all the way. "Damn it, carrying a dead mouse in your belt pretending to be a hunter, trying to act like a big shot in front of me!"

Su Yun was dumbfounded.

Ten thousand yuan was not a small sum to her either. Over her years of working, her personal savings totaled only thirty to forty thousand yuan.

Actually, it wasn't even about the money; the woman was clearly trying to extort them. Giving in would be enough to die of sheer frustration.

"Look, you two, let it go. That woman runs with a rough crowd on the streets, and you two look like scholars—it's not worth tangling with her," the chubby boss advised, reaching out a hand toward Su Yun to signal her to return the dog.

Su Yun clutched the dog and took a step back, refusing to let go.

"Here's what we'll do: I'll pay the money," Zhao Zejun suddenly said.

Su Yun blinked in astonishment. "Where on earth would you get that kind of money?! No, no..."

Zhao Zejun waved his hand to cut her off, unzipped his clutch bag, and flashed it open toward the chubby boss. "Boss, I can't pull out ten thousand in cash right this second. Do me a favor, go back inside and talk to her again. Would sixty-five hundred work? That's all the cash I have on hand."

The chubby boss peered into the bag. In the slot designated for money, a thick stack of hundred-yuan bills sat neatly. He asked in surprise, "Are you serious about buying it?"

"Dead serious. Sixty-five hundred should be enough. Go help me pitch it; she's making several thousand yuan off a single sentence, what more does she want?" Zhao Zejun said.

"More money than brains!" The chubby boss scoffed, turned around, and walked back into the restaurant. "Fine, I'll go ask again."

"If we're buying it, I'll use my own money." Su Yun moved to hand the dog over to Zhao Zejun, saying with a stern expression, "No, wait here for me, I'll go to the bank and withdraw the money."

Zhao Zejun shook his head and gave her a lingering look. "Teacher Su, should I call you naive, or just foolish?"

"What do you mean?" Su Yun was stunned.

Zhao Zejun glanced back at the chubby boss, who had already stepped into the private dining room, and broke into a mischievous grin.

"I'd have to be crazy to actually buy it!"

"Huh?"

"Run!"

With that, he grabbed Su Yun's hand and sprinted.